Fourth Generation Awards $70,000 in Grants to Support Affordable Housing

Written by The Minneapolis Foundation

Fourth Generation, a program of The Minneapolis Foundation that brings together emerging philanthropists, awarded $70,000 in grants to seven local organizations working on affordable housing. Each organization will receive a $10,000 grant.

Members of Fourth Generation work together to learn the skills of strategic giving and pool their resources to make a much bigger difference in the community than they could alone.

Every year, they vote to choose an issue, then work together to research, fundraise and review proposals. The year culminates with the selection of local nonprofits to receive grants. This year’s grantees are all working to improve and provide affordable housing in our community, particularly where the need is greatest.

“Housing is one of our most basic needs, and too many members of our community do not have a safe, stable, affordable place to live,” said Sam Rosenbaum, chair of Fourth Generation. “Furthermore, this issue disproportionately impacts communities of color and other marginalized groups. The organizations we have chosen to fund are doing fantastic work on affordable housing in the Twin Cities, including providing emergency shelter space, advocating on behalf of tenants, and preparing individuals and families for homeownership. We are honored to support this work.”

The recipients of this year’s Fourth Generation grants are:

Ain Dah Yung, to help provide one-time housing assistance to Native American young people transitioning from homelessness to permanent affordable housing.

Build Wealth MN to support the development and launch of their Youth Stabilization Project, which will guide individuals aged 15-30 along a pathway of good financial stewardship and future homeownership.

City of Lakes Community Land Trust to assist 35 low-income households in achieving sustainable, responsible and affordable homeownership in 2018. The CLCLT creates permanently affordable housing by owning the land beneath a property but selling the home on that land to an income-qualified buyer.

HOME Line, which provides free legal, organizing, educational and advocacy services throughout Minnesota, for their Hmong Immigrant Outreach Project.

Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia to help tenants organize against exploitative rents and neglected buildings, while creating a coalition to build and pass a policy platform guaranteeing renter protections.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid for technology to enhance its ability to bring cases for tenants facing evictions and unsafe living conditions.

PRG, Inc. to help fund a full-time Somali staff member whose work will support Somali families moving from public housing to home ownership.

The Fourth Generation program helps ensure that future generations have the tools they need to carry on Minnesota’s tradition of generosity and make positive change in the community. Over the last eight years, more than 250 members have donated and raised nearly $375,000 to fund grants awarded to non-profit organizations working to address critical community issues, including criminal justice reform, youth homelessness, food justice, small business development, and services for aging Minnesotans.